We have the fortune of counting with lovers of good home cooking within the members of our family. From the great grandma all the way down to the grandchildren. There is this one recipe that we all enjoy, not only in terms of taste but one that gathers the cooks in a kitchen full of laughter and talks while we discover the ingredients, prepare the mise en place and create different combinations and options. It’s pizza!
Today we celebrate the international day of this delicious and well-known recipe that has as many variables as imagination allows. There’s the thin and crispy crust and the fermented one made with the sourdough starter. Also, the thick version with a filled end crust also has its fans.
We have the version baked in old rustic ovens that give it a delicious firewood aroma. Some people who are more adventurous have prepared it in the fireplaces of their own homes and there are even those who have used a BBQ!
As I mentioned above, imagination and also the desire to try something new allows us to create another story to tell our friends, helps us to work our creativity and give this recipe our personal touch. Of course, among the varieties of this delicious dish we find the renowned Deep Dish Pizza, famous and characteristic of Chicago.
A BIT OF HISTORY:
Traditionally it is told that one of the first pizza places, called Pizzeria Uno, was opened around 1943 by an American soldier who had been stationed in Italy during World War II and whose name was Ike Sewell. Sewell very cleverly made the most of the appreciation that returning soldiers had for this dish they had known and enjoyed abroad. And so, Uno’s was the pioneer of the Deep Dish Style of pizza. The idea soon caught on with Chicagolanders who started mixing up various ingredients like sausage and tomatoes that were placed inside a hearty apple pie-sized crust. Although it is known that Pizzeria Uno opened on Ohio Street, the origin of the Deep Dish recipe is still disputed, but many believe that this was the place.
Times have changed and while years ago pizza was exclusive to Italian restaurants or fast food chains, now we see more and more people attempting the preparation of this recipe in their own homes… “Look for the pan, flour, tomato and cheese and let’s get to work!”
THE ORIGINAL RECIPE:
Unlike the other known pizzas around the world, the traditional Chicago Deep Dish pizza has a different order in the placement of its ingredients: The dough is placed in the pan at the bottom, making sure it has a uniform thickness so that the slices are baked with an even crust.
This is followed by a generous amount of cheese that will prevent the dough from getting wet with the other ingredients and this can keep the crust crispy by keeping it from getting wet with the sauce. Like this, the cheese will melt and give that unique touch to this recipe. Then you can place the other ingredients (sausages, pepperoni, etc.) and at last a red tomato sauce deliciously seasoned with garlic and oregano. Now let’s go to the oven, I’m dying to try a good piece of this delicious pizza.
FUN FACTS:
One of the fun facts about the famous Deep Dish Pizza is Jimmy Kimmel’s visit to Giordano’s Pizza during one of his trips to Chicago, giving Deep Dish pizza more fame across the country.
People across the country love pizza! in fact so much so that we eat about 100 acres of pizza everyday according to the National Association of Pizza operators. That’s a whopping 350 slices every second!
Homer Simpson prefers for himself Chicago’s Deep Dish pizza to New York’s thin slices.
And Ex-president Bill Clinton makes part of one of the anecdotes of this unique recipe by refusing to leave Chicago O’Hare International Airport until he received the local pizza on Air Force One.
IDEAS FOR THIS SPECIAL DAY
- Eat your favorite pizza.
- Visit a local pizzeria and enjoy their fantastic recipes.
- Make your own pizza at home with your loved ones.
- Let your imagination run wild with your favorite dressings, crusts, and sauces.
- Use #NationalPizzaDay to post on your social media.
- Remember to enjoy and share your best recipes with DyconGroup.
